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NEW DELHI: Cyclonic storm Arnab continued making landfall along the Andhra Pradesh coast on Wednesday morning, bringing heavy rainfall, strong winds and high tides. Trees were uprooted in Visakhapatnam and Odisha’s Malkangiri, while rough seas and gusty winds battered the Kakinada coastline.The landfall process was expected to continue for around three more hours from 7am, according to reports. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the storm was nearly stationary near the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coast early Wednesday, with sustained wind speeds of 120-130 kmph and gusts reaching 145 kmph.Visuals from Visakhapatnam showed high tides at RK Beach and a tree uprooted near Andhra University’s College of Engineering for Women. In Odisha’s Malkangiri, strong winds and heavy rainfall were also reported.Heavy rainfall caused waterlogging in several parts of Kakinada, while nearly 6,000 electricity poles were uprooted in Andhra Pradesh’s Konaseema district, damaging power infrastructure. Officials also shifted residents from badly affected areas, including Pagadala Peta, to rehabilitation centres.A storm surge of 1 metre to 1.5 metres above the astronomical tide was forecast to inundate low-lying areas of Andhra Pradesh over the following three hours before gradually subsiding.The Andhra Pradesh School Education Department converted 609 schools into rehabilitation centres, accommodating 854 people across the state as of 5.50am on Wednesday, officials said.Heavy rainfall, red alert in OdishaThe IMD issued a red alert for extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places in Odisha’s Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada and Nabarangpur districts. Winds of 60-70 kmph, gusting to 80 kmph, were expected in these areas.Other southern districts of Odisha were under an orange alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall, accompanied by winds of 50-70 kmph. Wind speeds of 40-70 kmph were expected in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack.IMD scientist Sanjeev Dwivedi warned of possible mudslides and landslides in the Koraput region and advised people to avoid unnecessary travel. Strong winds could damage kutcha houses, thatched roofs and other vulnerable structures.Between 8.30am on October 27 and 4am on October 28, Kannuripalem in Anakapalle district recorded the highest rainfall at 261.5 mm. Vizianagaram recorded 259.74 mm, while Visakhapatnam recorded 259.06 mm during the period.Evacuations, emergency teams deployedAhead of the cyclone, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said the state had identified 2,199 cyclone shelters and prepared evacuation plans, prioritising elderly people, children, persons with disabilities and pregnant women. He said 2,360 pregnant women had been moved to medical facilities.“Twelve NDRF and ten SDRF teams have been assigned to the districts, with deployment underway,” the Chief Minister said, adding that police, fire services and medical teams had been mobilised, while the Navy and Coast Guard were ready to assist.
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More than 8,400 power restoration personnel had been mobilised, Naidu said. Arrangements were also being made for food, drinking water, medicines and generators, while control rooms were operating round the clock.“I appeal to everyone to remain calm, stay alert and cooperate with the authorities. Move immediately to designated shelters when advised. Fishermen must not venture into the sea until official clearance is given,” he said.“Keep essential supplies and charged phones ready. Avoid unnecessary travel, beaches, riverbanks, floodwaters and fallen power lines,” he added.The chief minister urged residents to remain in safe shelters until authorities confirmed that the danger had passed and to follow official advisories.
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